Charred paper on fixture holds up council meeting

Police and fire news in brief

San Diego firefighter Dennis Tong asked people to leave the area near the entrance to City Hall yesterday after the smell of smoke led to an evacuation of the building for more than an hour.
— Peggy Peattie

San Diego firefighter Dennis Tong asked people to leave the area near the entrance to City Hall yesterday after the smell of smoke led to an evacuation of the building for more than an hour.
— Peggy Peattie

SAN DIEGO:
The smell of smoke delayed a San Diego City Council meeting for more than an hour yesterday afternoon as City Hall was evacuated so firefighters could investigate.

The search turned up charred paper on a 12th-floor light fixture, said San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque.

“The light ballast failed and that caused paper insulation to char, and that gave off the odor,” he said.

The building on C Street and Second Avenue was evacuated about 2:20 p.m. after people reported smelling smoke. Employees were allowed back in about 3:30 p.m.

The city plans to spend $6 million next year to install sprinklers throughout the building. The first nine floors of the 13-floor building lack sprinklers.

CityTV Channel 24, which broadcasts council meetings, stayed on during the evacuation. Firefighters could be seen scouring the council chambers — located on the 12th floor — and one city employee used a ladder to examine the ceiling.

Once the council meeting resumed, City Council President Ben Hueso apologized for the delay and joked that everyone needed to sign a legal waiver before they could proceed.

— C.G. & K.K.

Rip current possible cause in Arizona man's death

OCEANSIDE:
A 49-year-old Arizona man died after he apparently got caught in a rip current off an Oceanside beach Sunday, officials said.

He was identified as Duane B. Cummings, Medical Examiner's Office officials said yesterday. Cummings was in the water when his family lost sight of him, officials said. He was found unresponsive about 30 minutes later by a young girl.

Cummings was taken to Tri-City Medical Center, where he died at 7:50 p.m., officials said. An autopsy was scheduled yesterday.

— D.B.

CRIME WATCH

Man in deadly chase was gang member, police say

SAN DIEGO:
Police have identified a San Ysidro man who led them on a wild chase through the South Bay on Saturday morning that ended when an officer shot and killed him near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Carlos D. Martinez, 36, was a gang member with convictions for robbery and narcotics and was recently released from prison on parole, said San Diego police Capt. Jim Collins. Martinez had two felony strikes against him, meaning one more felony conviction could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life.

The person who shot Martinez was identified as San Diego canine Officer Randy Burgess, a 23-year veteran. Burgess was taken off patrol while the department reviews the circumstances of the shooting, a routine procedure.

The chase started about 9:40 a.m. at a Chula Vista motel when officers moved in to arrest Martinez in connection with auto theft, Collins said. Martinez assaulted bystanders, rammed several vehicles — including a police vehicle — and fired at least five times at officers in an attempt to elude them before he was fatally shot on Interstate 805 near Camino de la Plaza, Collins said.

— J.L.J.

Duo may have been hurt in gang-related shooting

SAN DIEGO:
Two teenage boys were wounded yesterday afternoon in what police believe may be a gang-related shooting in the Nestor neighborhood of San Diego.